Has COVID-19 Made Americans Search For ‘Risk Free’ Life?

Three months removed from the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., many Americans are still proceeding with caution toward a sense of normalcy.

A strong anti-lockdown, anti-restriction sentiment has existed amongst some Americans from day one of the pandemic. They’re still outnumbered by those who align more closely with the unease of medical experts and the Biden administration, according to public polling data.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, for example, has stressed the need to keep restrictions in place for months. He criticized Republican governors who lifted restrictions and said his life has barely changed since getting vaccinated. (RELATED: Trump’s Health Officials Downplayed The Virus. Now Biden’s Downplay The Vaccine)

‘Slipping Into Hacktastic Irrelevancy’: Dagen McDowell Says No One Is Waiting For Fauci’s Permission To Go Out https://t.co/ep46UdaQV5

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 16, 2021

CDC director Rochelle Walensky has adopted a similar public posture. A feeling of “imminent doom” still hangs over her head, and CDC guidelines for vaccinated individuals have been far more reserved than many people expected.

Despite the seemingly pessimistic view offered by these officials, including President Joe Biden, they remain relatively popular with the American public. Fifty-nine percent of Americans think the CDC has done a good or excellent job of handling the coronavirus, according to an April Politico/Morning Consult poll. The same poll found 58% of Americans giving high marks to Fauci.

Biden’s handling of the virus got 57% good or excellent feedback. While feelings toward the CDC have declined fairly steadily throughout the pandemic, it’s clear that Americans still generally support the leaders who are advising patience and worry over a return to normal.

Data also indicates that Americans frequently support continued lockdown policies, suggesting that a feeling of ultimate safety is being prioritized over economic and social liberation. That Politico/Morning Consult poll found 55% of Americans are more concerned about the public health impact of the virus, compared to only 36% who are more worried about the economic impact. Those numbers have remained somewhat steady despite nearly 40 million Americans saying the pandemic has left them worse-off financially.

Sixty-two percent of Americans believe that even healthy people — who have zero COVID-19 symptoms — should still stay home as much as possible. 37% are still mostly or completely isolating themselves throughout the day, according to Gallup.

Another April Politico/Harvard poll: 42% of Americans say that even when the pandemic is over, they would like to work partially or fully from home.

Another policy Americans appear to support is vaccine passports. According to a poll from The Hill/HarrisX, 53% of Americans want a government-made vaccine passport policy, compared to 47% who don’t. The Biden administration has made clear it will not be pursuing a federal vaccine passport program, but states and private businesses may choose to do so. (RELATED: Dr. Fauci Says No To Vaccine Passports: ‘It’s Not Gonna Be Mandated From The Federal Government’)

Hawaii to roll out vaccine passport program by summer https://t.co/RZXobfYbym pic.twitter.com/MK3PHI0KxP

— The Hill (@thehill) April 13, 2021

Perhaps surprisingly, most Americans still have an optimistic outlook on the pandemic. 77% of them say the worst is in the rearview mirror. Still, it seems a significant portion of the U.S. wants to make things as risk-free as possible.

Critics of coronavirus restrictions have often compared them to speed limits, arguing that lowering the speed limit to 5 mph would likely end all car crashes, but the trade-off isn’t worth it. A majority of Americans appear to believe that isn’t too bad of a deal after all.

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